A Shasta County atheist has won a settlement worth $2 million after being sent to jail when he refused to participate in a religious drug-treatment program on his parole, Redding reports.
Barry Hazle Jr and his lawyer John G Heller confirmed the settlement during a press conference in San Francisco last Tuesday.
Hazle was sent to prison for more than 100 days after he raised objections about participating in the drug rehabilitation program which was reported to focus on recognizing a "higher power". They also taught prayers and referenced God, according to Heller.
Hazle asked the authorities for an alternative treatment program but they said the Westcare's 12-step system was the only one available.
Hazle, 46, served a year in prison for a methamphetamine charge. When he was released in 2007, he was ordered to join the rehab.
Hazle indicated that the program was offensive to his own beliefs but when he resisted joining the program, he was sent to prison for another three months. This is when Hazle filed a case against the state corrections department.
The court ruled Hazle's rights had been violated. However, he initially did not receive any damages for their treatment of him and he therefore decided to pursue the case even further.
The 9<sup>th Circuit Court of Appeals judge rules that the compensatory damages are mandatory "in case of unconstitutional imprisonment", according to Daily Mail, and the settlement was given to Hazle last week. The reward was intended to compensate the violation of his First Amendment religious rights as well as the costs he paid for continuing the legal battle.
"I'm thrilled to finally have this case settled," Hazle told Redding.
"It sends a clear message to people in a position of authority, like my parole agent, for example, that they not mandate religious programming for their parolees, and for anyone else, for that matter."
